Do you know how to tell the difference between a CMOS and a CCD sensor?

by | Oct 14, 2014 | Articles, CCTV articles

CCD and CMOS sensor

We’re used to hearing about CCD and CMOS sensors as CCTV installers. If you’re new to CCTV installation, make sure to double-check the specifications of your next camera. You can tell whether a camera has a CCD or a CMOS sensor by looking at the datasheet. This post will go through the differences between CCD and CMOS sensors.

ccd and cmos cctv

CCD Sensors or Charge coupled device

CCD sensors have built-in silicon chipsets that contain receptors or photosites. They absorb light from the item and convert it to an electrical charge. Once converted to electrical charge or current, it displays on a computer or any other device.

CCD sensor produces quite a lot of heat in the process of converting photons to an electrical charge. A CCD sensor costs about four times as much as a CMOS sensor. However, CCD sensors were once quite popular because they produced clear video footage by transferring a photogenerated charge from pixel to pixel.

CMOS Sensor or Complementary Metal

– Oxide Semiconductor

CCD converts charge from pixel to pixel, whereas CMOS converts charge to voltage within the pixel. In the early days, CMOS sensors were not as capable of capturing crisp videos as CCD sensors, hence they were less popular in CCTV applications. CMOS uses negative polarity and positive polarity circuits, and only one type of circuit is required at any given moment; they consume significantly less power than CCD sensors, which was considered as a benefit. When running wires over long distances, cameras that use less power are usually preferred. CMOS sensors have a shorter development cycle, which allows them to be produced at a lower cost, but CCD sensors offer higher integration with a longer development cycle.

Conclusion

Because CMOS uses a single circuit to generate charge, it may struggle to capture decent video footage while an object is in motion. In comparison, CCD covert pixel to pixel produced clearer video output.

Modern CMOS sensors have come a long way since their introduction. High performance is possible in both sensors, but there is a far too large price difference; however, CMOS CCTV cameras cost far less than CCD, putting CMOS ahead of CCD.

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